The Melody of A Silenced Harp
		     Chapter Two:The Great Fabul War


	In the morning, Cecil, Rydia and Rosa got ready to leave, packing her quiver and arrows, along with a few good luck charms and talismans of her White arts. They walked out of the old house, after the old couple wished them well, and headed for the village exit. Then Cecil saw two bedraggled figures coming into town. Tellah and Anna, just arriving from Damcyan. 
	"Tellah!" Rydia called, getting the old man's attention. His eyes lit up as she ran over to hug him.
	"Rydia, good to see you again. And Cecil!" Tellah laughed heartily. "I take it this lovely maiden is the one you saved from fever?" he kneeled to kiss her hand.
	"Why yes! Thank you." Rosa said, blushing. Cecil looked over and saw Anna hanging back from this reunion. The journey back had taken its toll on her. He debated whether he should tell her about his strange dream, but decided against it. They didn't have time.
	"Where are you off to so quickly? I would have you over for dinner." Tellah said.
	"We must hurry to Fabul! Golbez plans to strike there next!" Rosa said. Fire entered Anna's eyes and she ran over.
	"Golbez? I must help you fight-" she started.
	"Really, Anna! I thought we had settled this. We are staying here!" Tellah said sternly, taking his daughter's arm. She reluctantly followed him, but shot Cecil a look that said "I'm not finished yet." He didn't know what to make of it, but had no time to contemplate. They left town, heading out to clear monsters off of the Hovercraft.

	The Hovercraft, with Rosa, Rydia and Cecil aboard, flew as fast as was possible across the shallows toward the Antlion's nest area. Beyond was Mount Hobs, the only barrier between the eager party and Fabul. But rumor had it that the pass through it was barred by a thick ice wall from the last snowstorm. Rosa pulled her robes tightly around her. She wanted desparately to embrace Cecil after the long absence but she had promised to not to be so sentimental, and keep to business. She glanced at Rydia, the young Caller who had been so violently ripped from her enclosed life and forced to wander the world, or so Cecil had described. Rosa knew that Rydia dabbled in the Black arts which Rosa would never go near. Rydia, though she didn't know it, was probably their only chance of melting any ice walls that they encountered at Hobs. And at last they arrived.

	They began to climb up the steep rocks. There was a slight trail blazed through the jagged rocks heading upward. However, they saw that the rumors were true. The trail was blocked by a huge icy wall, wedged between the mountain rocks. It generated a vast cold that penatrated even the warmest robes. Rosa, shivering, walked up to the ice and put her hand up to it.
	"Rydia.....cast the spell of Fire." she said.

	At the same time in Kaipo, Anna was more and more troubled by the prospect of Golbez attacking Fabul unhindered. Cecil, she knew, would get there, but she felt it was her responsibility to protect the castle. She had to avenge Edward....and get her revenge. Tellah was sitting in his favorite chair by the fire.
	"Um...father...do you think Cecil will be all right? Perhaps we should help them...." she said offhandedly. Tellah looked up, adjusting his spectacles.
	"No, dear, Cecil is a very capable fighter. We defeated Octomammoth after all." Tellah said matter-of-factly. 
	"Yes, but....maybe they could use a little help." Anna persisted. Tellah shook his head.
	"Anna, let such foolish ideas GO. They're fine without us." Tellah said. Anna became suddenly sweet and charming.
	"Well, now that you've made such a wise decision, I'll make you your favorite coffee, father." she said, sweeping into the kitchen. She mixed up her father's coffee in a moment, but pulled something out of her skirt pockets. A small vial, containing a drug she had obtained in Damcyan. 
	"This will put him asleep long enough for me to get away..." she thought. But to make sure, she cast Sleep on it and poured into the coffee. Then she added more flavor to cover up the drug and swept back out to the other room.
	"Here is your coffee, Father." she said, flashing him a smile. Tellah smiled back and took a long sip of it.
	"Hmmm...more flavor this time? I like it." Tellah said before nodding off to sleep. Anna nodded and slipped away.
	Forgive me, Father...

	"....No." Rydia murmured, turning away. Rosa's eyes turned sympathetic. She walked toward Rydia.
	"Rydia.....we need you to cast Fire, so we can get through here." she said softly.
	"No." Rydia said, gritting her teeth. "I hate fire. It destroyed everything I ever knew, and everything at Damcyan. Fire....is death. I can't." Tears fell from her face.
	"Rydia....if you don't cast fire, more people will die. Golbez will tear through Fabul with no resistance, and no one will be left alive....unless you can get us through here." Rosa said. Rydia looked at her, and subtlely nodded. She walked slowly up to the ice. Words she had never known came from her lips.
	"FIRE!" she cried. Flames shot from her outstretched fingertips, washing over the ice, melting it within seconds. Rydia knew, now, the spell of Fire.
	"Rydia!! Wonderful!" Rosa cried, hugging her. Cecil patted her on the back.
	"Good job! Now, on to Fabul." They climbed higher and higher, up the peak. After hours of grueling hiking, they reached the summit.

	Ahead of them, they could see a man surrounded by monsters. He was barechested and very tan, wearing just a red pair of pants. He had a small ponytail on the top of his sweatdrenched head. The monsters advanced on him. He met them head on, throwing one imp captain over his shoulder over the edge, and kicking another away. He killed three more effortlessly. Then, a huge bomb moved toward him.
	"Cecil! That isn't an ordinary bomb! We have to help!" Rydia said. He nodded and they ran to aid the man, who without a doubt was a karate fighter from Fabul.
	He looked at them questioningly for a moment but went to fight the monster. 
	"I am Mother Bomb." it growled in an inhumane voice. Rydia shied away at first, but then began casting Ice. The karate man rushed over and punched the enormous bomb near its grinning mouth. Cecil slashed at it with Darkness, and Rosa nocked an arrow to her bow. Mother Bomb blasted them all with fire. Rydia ran up behind it and hit it with an ice spell. It whirled on her suddenly, knocking her down.
	"Child of Mist..." it spoke, lashing its evil forked tongue around. "Do you know who I am?!"
	"You're the Mother Bomb, and I'm going to kill you!" Rydia said, hitting with ice again. Cecil slashed it but it ignored him.
	"I am indeed. But I am also something else...I spawned the bombs who burned your village. How do you like that? Dying knowing that I who killed Mist killed you?" the bomb said in a nasty tone. Rosa gasped. Such a rage entered Rydia's face that Cecil had never seen. She began chanting.
	"You beast! A monster like you could never understand what I've been through---NEVER!!" Rydia screamed. She chanted a few more words.
	"I hope you go straight to the Dark World! Let my friend be your escort!" Rydia screeched, her face red and tear-streaked. "...JINN!" 
	Only one other time when Rydia summoned a monster had she NOT been whisked to her other plane, her protective plane....and that was when she summoned Titan without knowing how. Now, Jinn had come to her aid. The fire demon appeared in an explosion of smoke. The hugely muscled demon's antennas twitched, and it charged through Mother Bomb in a streak of flames. It began to rumble inside.
	Rydia collapsed as Jinn vanished.
	"Rydia!" Cecil cried. The karate man dashed up.
	"We don't have time! Mother Bomb has gone nuclear!!" he cried. Rosa ran over to Cecil, but never got there. She could scarcely scream before the bomb exploded in a blast of light, sending them flying.
	
	Near Damcyan, Anna was staggering along in the sand when the explosion went off. A huge mushroom cloud erupted from Hobs, obliterating it and the sandbar it rested on. Anna gasped as debris fell down, including a slightly battered vehicle. When it stopped, Anna walked over to the vehicle.
	"The Hovercraft!" she cried joyfully, thanking her lucky stars. But then she realized something. Cecil and the others were on Hobs when it blew!
	"I hope they're okay..." she murmured, hopping into the Hovercraft and hitting the ignition. It sputtered a few times, then quit.
	"Oh, please work..." she willed it, casting Fast on it for good measure.

	Yang woke up in a soft, grassy field. He was confused, hadn't he just been on the mountain? Then it all came back to him...Jinn, Mother Bomb, the little girl. He looked around him. Over by a tree lay the woman with the golden hair and white robes, next to him was the man in dark armor, and a few feet away was the little girl. He shook the man.
	"Umnh..." he moaned, coming to. He sat up.
	"What happened?" he asked. Yang looked him in the eye.
	"Mother Bomb exploded. Mount Hobs is gone." he said. "By the way, thank you for saving my life back there. I'm Yang, Karate Master of Fabul." 
	"I'm Cecil, Dark Knight of...." he stopped. "Of nowhere." Cecil crawled over to Rosa and shook her gently.
	"Cecil! Are you all right?" she cried, casting cure on them both. Yang was trying to wake up Rydia. 
	"Mmh..." she murmured, before her eyes opened. She gazed at the shirtless fighter and the others. "Did I kill it?" she asked. Rosa giggled.
	"Yes, Rydia. It and the mountain." Cecil frowned.
	"But what protected us from the blast?" he asked. Yang shrugged.
	"I felt something cool wrapped around me, like...a mist." Rosa said dreamily, gazing at the azure sky. Rydia smiled knowingly and said nothing.
	"Yang! Were you ambushed by Mother Bomb?" Cecil asked suddenly. Yang nodded slowly.
	"I was training with the best fighters in Fabul, but they were all killed." Yang said. 
	"We think that Baron is trying to get your Crystal of Air. Golbez destroyed Damcyan too, and you're next." Cecil said. Yang started and ran over.
	"Perhaps Mother Bomb was sent to distract us while they attack Fabul?!" he cried. "We must make haste. Fabul is not far from here, I recognize the area. Hurry!" They ran off after the athletic fighter. Cecil pulled off some of his midnight blue armor so he could run faster. 

	Yang ran into Fabul, followed closely by his new companions. After they saved his life, he had little choice but to trust them. Even if Cecil wore dark armor, Yang knew that good could be inside of him. He had already proved it by estranging himself from Baron and its dastardly crimes. He burst into the throne room. The king whirled around and stared at him.
	"Yang! What's the matter?! We heard an explosion." the King cried. The others ran into the throne room.
	"Your Majesty. Everyone but me is dead, and only thanks to these people. Cecil, and...."
	"Rosa and Rydia." Rosa said.
	"Yes. I was ambushed, Sire, and these people lead me to believe our Crystal is in danger. Baron may attack this very moment." Yang said quickly. The King's eyes widened, and he sat back, taking in all the information.
	"Are you not a Knight of Baron? Can you be trusted?" the King asked suspiciously. Cecil's eyes were downcast.
	"I am a former Knight of Baron, if you please." Cecil said evenly. "Sir, Damcyan was destroyed and their Crystal was taken. Prince Edward is dead. The sheer destructive power of one their monsters has blown up Mount Hobs completely. Do you want our protection or not?" The King took all this in, and nodded, gesturing to his head of security.
	"Yes. Will you please protect our crystal as best you can? I will gather the townspeople and take refuge. Girls, would you care to take the office of relief?" the King asked politely. Rosa curtseyed.
	"Of course." she said. Cecil turned to leave with Yang, but she stopped him. She kissed him on the cheek.
	"Take care of yourselves!" she said. Cecil nodded. The King got out a set of armor.
	"Cecil, this is the Black Armor. Take it, and use it well." Cecil nodded solemnly, and took the armor. As his quest was getting more noble, his armor was getting darker and darker. He quickly switched his mail around, and stamped out to the front gates, casting a look back at Rosa. In his dream, she wasn't there when he needed her. What did it mean??

	An eerie silence fell as the guards stood poised at the gates of Fabul. Not even a small breeze swept through the trees.
	"The calm before the storm." Yang said quietly. A soldier dashed up.
	"They're here!" he cried. Cecil saw monsters and Baronian soldiers rushing toward the gates.
	"Meet them." Yang said as they ran up to them. Imps, Weepers, Tortoises, and soldiers swarmed over them. Yang brought his Fireclaw down on one's head, and kicked a group of imps. Cecil killed a few guards, praying that they weren't men he knew. Smoke appeared around them as more monsters appeared. Then, a dark shape blotted out the sun.
	"The Red Wings are here!!" Cecil gasped. He hadn't thought Golbez would use them this time. Bombs showered down on the castle, but it was built better than Damcyan. By warriors not courtiers, as they said. 
	"We can't defend against airships." Cecil said. "Retreat!" They ran into the castle. The shops were empty, except for the shopkeepers trying to escape. Monsters rushed in and slaughtered them without a thought, then attacked the soldiers. Cecil cut the head of a waterhag off, and Yang clawed another to death. A karate soldier backflipped onto a Baronian, crushing his skull. Yang gestured, and they retreated further up the stairs. Yang looked around at the castle, hearing sounds of battle everywhere.
	"The King has escaped with the citizens. Keep fighting!" More monsters swarmed into the gates and up the stairs. Cecil wondered where Golbez got all of them. They killed some more, and ran into the throne room.
	"Lock the door! NOW!" Yang yelled to a guard. He ran over to the door and opened it wide.
	"What do you think you're doing?!" Cecilk exclaimed, but he already had his answer. The man suddenly transformed into a flying, green leathery gargoyle. Yang flew through the air and kicked it, and Cecil cut its arm off. His blade was drenched in monster blood, and some human blood too. 
	"T..this isn't working..." Yang gasped. "We'll just have to defend from the Crystal Room." Cecil nodded and they ran up through the doors. Inside a sight met Cecil that he hadn't seen since Mysidia. Entirely glass flooring and walls, marble pillars, and a huge golden pedestal. Upon it sat a shimmering gem, the Crystal of Air. They each stood at one side of the pedestal. 

	And, the last thing Cecil ever expected to walk through the door, did.
	"KAIN!" he cried joyfully. He ran over to embrace his friend, but stopped. Kain's eyes were dark and unnatural, his green armor somehow sinister looking.
	"...Kain?" Cecil said uncertainly. Kain walked up, and slashed him with his spear. Then he jumped up and knocked him over.
	"Kain, what on earth is wrong with you?!!" Cecil cried. Kain slashed at him again. There was a scream from the doorway. Rosa and Rydia ran into the Crystal Room.
	"I've come for the Crystal." Kain said an emotionless voice. 
	"Kain, don't you dare!" Rosa cried, walking toward him. Rydia recognized the man who tried to hurt her at Mist, and began chanting a spell.

	Anna put the pedal to the metal in the Hovercraft. Fabul was in sight. She had seen the Red Wings fly over to it and had thought it too late, but the castle still stood. She saw a dark man walk into the gates of the castle.
	"Golbez!" she cried, speeding up and heading for the gates herself.

	"Why so upset, Kain?" came an icy voice from the door. A man that seemed to embody darkness itself, wearing black armor and a horned helm, with a midnight blue cape flowing behind him.
	"...Golbez!" Cecil gasped, trying to get up. "You're...Golbez!" Golbez laughed, a sound that Rydia never wanted to hear again. 
	"Of course. And you must be Cecil. Kain has told me SO MUCH about you." His cold gaze swept the room. Yang stepped in front of the pedestal.
	"You'll have to get through me, Golbez." he said. Golbez laughed again, and shot a bizzare green bolt of energy from his hands. Yang fell to the floor. 
	"Go ahead and take the Crystal, Kain..." Golbez ordered calmly. But just as Kain moved toward the pedestal, they heard a huge crashing sound. The wall behind Golbez seemed to explode as the Hovercraft drove through it. The Hovercraft knocked Golbez off his feet. Rosa and Rydia jumped out of the way, and Anna nearly missed Cecil. The hovercraft smashed against the pedestal, smacking Kain and knocking him unconscious. The Crystal flew threw the air-and Golbez caught it neatly. 
	"GOLBEZ! I'll kill you just like you killed Edward!" Anna raged, hopping from the wreckage of the hovercraft. Golbez grabbed Rosa and held her in front of him.
	"If she's important to you at all, you'll let me leave." Golbez said, backing towards the door. "We shall meet again, Cecil." With that, Golbez was gone, along with Rosa.

	Rydia walked around the wrecked craft, surveyed the rubble, and quickly went to work.
	"Cure!" she cast. Cecil slowly got up, as did Yang. Anna walked over.
	"He got away! And I was so close!!" she cursed.
	"Are you okay, Cecil?" Yang asked. He nodded. "Good, I'm okay too." Then they heard a moan from the other side of the room. Kain slowly got up. His armor was dented and crushed. Strands of blonde hair fell from his helmet.
	"...Cecil? I can't believe I fought you! I'm sorry!!" he cried. "I was under Golbez's spell!!" Cecil ran over and hugged his best friend.
	"I thought you were lost after Mist." he said. Kain nodded. Then he looked around, and flushed, not recognizing any faces.
	"Who....are these people?" he asked. Cecil smiled.
	"Kain, this is Yang of Fabul, Rydia of Mist, and Anna of Kaipo." Cecil said.
	"Rydia....of MIST? Remarkable! I'm sorry for what we did." Kain apologized. Rydia looked into his green eyes, and nodded.
	"Forgiven." she said. Cecil was surprised she did it so fast. Then he turned to Anna. Anna, with her bloodstained, mud-splotched, ripped dress, tangled red hair, and dirty face.
	"Anna! Why'd you come back? I thought Tellah said..." Cecil began.
	"When Father wakes up from his long sleep, he'll find that I'm not his little baby anymore. I'm a grown woman, and I can make my own decisions. My decision is revenge." she said, looking proudly at Cecil. He turned to Kain.
	"Well, Kain? Will you help us?" he asked. Kain brushed a strand of hair out of his eye and smiled.
	"I'd love to." His face turned momentarily dark. "I have to pay Golbez back for his cruel deeds. Rosa's plight is my fault. I plan to right it." Kain vowed. Yang nodded.
	"If we're quite done here, let's go rest for a while." Yang suggested. They walked out of the shattered crystal room, which glittered brightly no longer. 

	The tired party trudged through the cracked halls of Fabul, which had miraculously survived Golbez's attack. Yang walked into the Inn, followed by Cecil, Anna, and Kain. The old man behind the counter nodded, and waved them on to the bedroom. Taking their seats at an old cedar table, the group looked at one another and finally to Cecil.
	"Golbez must have taken Rosa back to Baron." Cecil said dully. "We have to go get her." Kain frowned.
	"But Cecil, you commanded the Red Wings before. You know how powerful they are, it's impossible to sneak in." Anna smiled.
	"Try to think positively about this. There has to be a way in." she said. Cecil looked back at her. She was right, brooding would help no one.
	"Baron never spent time building up its Navy. If we had a ship, we could do it. Kain, what do you think?" Cecil suggested. Kain glanced at Yang.
	"IF we had a ship, yes, that would work. But we don't." Yang shook his head.
	"Considering that we have nothing to lose, the King of Fabul would lend us one, I'm sure." Yang surmised, smiling grimly. Anna stood up.
	"It's settled then! In the morning, we'll get a ship and lay siege to Baron, rescuing this Rosa woman." Her eyes teared up. "Hopefully, before anything awful happens to her..." She walked over to her bed, and got in.
	"Come now, we need our rest." And so they slept.